Gujarat Police seize ₹1.20 crore liquor haul on NH-27, two Rajasthan men held
Synopsis
Gujarat's State Monitoring Cell intercepted a truck carrying 16,349 bottles of IMFL worth over ₹1 crore on NH-27 in Banaskantha — one of the unit's biggest single hauls in recent weeks. With suspects traced from Barmer to Ludhiana and a receiver in Bhuj, the case exposes a multi-state liquor supply chain that Gujarat authorities are now racing to unravel.
Key Takeaways
The Gujarat Police SMC seized ₹1,20,22,661 worth of property, including 16,349 IMFL bottles , in Banaskantha district on 7 August .
The raid was conducted on National Highway 27 beneath the Un village overbridge in Thara taluka .
Two men from Barmer district, Rajasthan — Omprakash Kakal and Jitendrakumar Kakal — were arrested at the scene.
Wanted accused include alleged supplier Harish Kukana of Barmer, an unidentified receiver in Bhuj , and a loader in Ludhiana .
The seizure is significantly larger than the SMC's June (₹16.72 lakh) and July (₹16.39 lakh) operations.
The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and other property worth over ₹1.20 crore in a raid on National Highway 27 in Banaskantha district on 7 August, arresting two men from Rajasthan in what ranks among the unit's largest single-operation seizures in recent weeks. The crackdown targeted an interstate smuggling network allegedly running liquor into Gujarat in violation of the state's prohibition laws.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, the SMC team intercepted a truck beneath the Un village overbridge on the Thara-Randhanpur stretch of NH-27 in Thara taluka. Officers recovered 16,349 bottles of IMFL valued at ₹1,05,12,451 from the vehicle. Additional items seized included the truck itself (valued at ₹15 lakh), two mobile phones (₹10,000), ₹210 in cash, covering cloth, rope, 150 bundles of waste cloth, a driving licence, and a FASTag. The total estimated value of all seized property stands at ₹1,20,22,661.
Who Was Arrested
Two Rajasthan residents were arrested at the scene: truck driver Omprakash Kakal and cleaner Jitendrakumar Kakal, both from Aadrsh Lukhu village in Dhorimanna taluka of Barmer district. Charges have been registered under Sections 65(A), 65(E), 116(B), 81, 83 and 98(2) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, along with Sections 336(2), 336(3), 340(2) and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Wider Network Under Investigation
Investigators have named several wanted accused in connection with the case. These include alleged liquor supplier Harish Kukana of Sodiyar village in Barmer district, the truck's owner, an unidentified receiver based in Bhuj, and another unidentified individual allegedly responsible for loading the consignment in Ludhiana. Efforts to trace and apprehend the remaining accused are ongoing, according to police.
Pattern of SMC Crackdowns
The Banaskantha seizure is the latest in a series of escalating SMC operations across Gujarat. In June, the unit seized IMFL and an SUV worth ₹16.72 lakh near Dehgam, booking six accused. In July, a raid in Gandhinagar district yielded IMFL worth ₹6.28 lakh, with total seized property valued at ₹16.39 lakh. The August operation dwarfs both in scale, pointing to a more organised and high-volume supply chain that authorities are now working to dismantle.
Point of View
Despite decades of enforcement, continues to face a well-funded and geographically dispersed supply chain. The Ludhiana-to-Bhuj pipeline uncovered here is not an isolated corridor; it reflects a recurring pattern where dry-state demand sustains organised interstate networks. The SMC's rising seizure tallies suggest improved intelligence, but the presence of multiple unidentified accused — including the truck owner and the Bhuj receiver — points to gaps in network penetration. Until the financiers and distributors, not just drivers and cleaners, face prosecution, enforcement will remain a game of attrition.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Gujarat Police SMC raid in Banaskantha?
Police seized 16,349 bottles of IMFL valued at ₹1,05,12,451, along with a truck worth ₹15 lakh, mobile phones, cash, and other items. The total value of all seized property was estimated at ₹1,20,22,661.
Who was arrested in the Banaskantha liquor seizure case?
Two Rajasthan residents were arrested: truck driver Omprakash Kakal and cleaner Jitendrakumar Kakal, both from Aadrsh Lukhu village in Dhorimanna taluka of Barmer district.
Where exactly did the Gujarat liquor raid take place?
The raid was carried out beneath the Un village overbridge on the Thara-Randhanpur stretch of National Highway 27 in Thara taluka of Banaskantha district.
Who are the other accused named in the case?
Police have named alleged liquor supplier Harish Kukana of Sodiyar village in Barmer district, the truck's owner, an unidentified receiver in Bhuj, and an unidentified person who allegedly loaded the consignment in Ludhiana.
How does this seizure compare to previous SMC operations?
It is significantly larger than recent SMC actions — a June raid near Dehgam yielded ₹16.72 lakh in seized goods, and a July raid in Gandhinagar district recovered property worth ₹16.39 lakh. The August Banaskantha operation, at over ₹1.20 crore, is several times larger than both.
